Last week's fatal stabbing of a student in a New Jersey high school
by a fellow student allegedly taking prescription medications to
control various symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome has
focused new attention
on the question of the side effects and efficacy of such medications.
Asperger's patients are often "treated for depression and anxiety with
anti-depressants - drugs some advocacy groups claim can cause
violence." The Food and Drug Administration currently includes a
warning on certain drugs used to treat depression, known as SSRIs
(Prozac, Zoloft, etc.), stating that studies have shown
increased risk of suicide particularly among teens and children.
This risk does not necessarily translate into violence toward others,
of course, but many believe otherwise, stating that "how patients react
to the drugs is essentially a crapshoot".
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